Propuslsion of vessels.



J. A. BACKLUND.

PROPULSION 0F VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. s, 1917.

1 ,267,351 a Patented May 28,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FIG. 1.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY l. A. BACKLUND.

PROPULSION 0F VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 5, 1917.

Patented May 28,1918

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

mm t

. T w. n w

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY J'OSEF ANDERS BACKLUND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROPULSION 0F VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

Application filed November 5, 1917. Serial No. 200,331.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnr ANDnRs BACK- LUND, a subject of the presentGovernment of Russia, residing at 14 Continental Place, Mariners Harbor,Staten Island, borough of Richmond, city and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in the Propulsion ofVessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boat propulsion, and especially to that classwherein one or more pistons are projected out into the water behind theboat, to propel the same.

One advantage of this invention is to apply the power of a boat directlyin line with its direction of motion by means of a piston head.

Another advantage is to provide a piston to directly act on the waterwithout revolving or causing the water to churn,

Another advantage is to provide a piston adapted to project into thewater and which upon its return stroke permits air to pass through toits rear face in order to break the bond between the piston and thewater.

Further advantages and possibilities will become apparent as thespecification proceeds. In the drawings, like numerals refer to the sameparts throughout.

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of an apparatus embodying the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 1 on line c0l. Fig.3 is a sectional view of piston 2 of Fig. 1 on line ab. Fig. 4 is amodification in partial section.

When noting the wake of any mechanically propelled boat it is easilyapparent that a great lack of efficiency is present in all known meansof propulsion, for over a wide area behind the boat and also for aconsiderable distance, the water swirls and churns powerfully in amanner strongly suggesting that an enormous amount of energy has beenwasted in thus setting the water in commotion.

The present invention is designed to overcome this by avoiding rotationof projecting parts and the consequent enormous friction of rotation inthe water.

Referring to the drawings the boat 34 has an interior bracing of girders42 on which rests bed plate 43. This latter supports the bearings forthe shafts of gears 24, 25, 26 and 27 also the flywheels 18 and 19. Theguide channels 32 and 33 in which the slide blocks 21 and 20 reciprocateare supported by bed plate 43, likewise stand 15, and cylinders 1 and 3,whose intermediate webs provide bearings for propeller shaft 6, thespace between the webs providing bilge basin 35.

The power shaft 6 has mounted upon it gears 9 and 10, and at itsextremity propeller 5, which normally revolves just fast enough tofollow the movement of the boat without resistance. The function of thepropeller is to turn the boat or reverse its directions when setting outto sea.

When lever 17 is moved in the direction of the arrow it will communicateits motion to shifter 28 by link 13, causing gear 8 to mesh with gear10. The miter gears 25 and 27 will then revolve crank 23 and fly wheel19. Link 30 will also reciprocate block 20 and this piston head 4.

Likewise, if lever 16 be moved to the left, it will change shifter 29 bymeans of link 14 so that gear 7 will mesh with gear 9. Incidentallycollars 11 and 12 retain gears 27 and 24 in their proper runningpositions.

Upon revolving gear 24, its mate 26 will turn flywheel 18 and crank 22.This latter will cause block 21 to reciprocate by means of link 31.This, of course means that piston 2 is projected into the water andwithdrawn continually. If an ordinary imperforate cylinder head werethus reciprocated its return movement would neutralize the projectionstrokes. In the present apparatus, however, air inlet valves 37 permitthe inflow of air when the shaft 46 projects head 2 outward into theposition illustrated. Upon the return stroke, valves 37 close and theimprisoned air in chamber 44 passes through channels 40, and openingvalves 39 outwardly, this air instantly breaks the bond between rearface 45 and the water, and completely displaces the piston head in thewater. Naturally the air floats up to the surface very speedily, leavinga fresh solid wall of water against which the face 45 may impinge withgreat effectiveness. The rear face 45 of the piston is concave for thepurpose of gripping the water and preventing it from receding, thusproducing the resistance and traction which is so desirable. The concaveface is provided with air outlets as previously described, which arepreferably located in the positions illustrated.

Owing to the fact that water, and especially salt water has a verycorrosive action on exposed iron and steel, it is proposed to usesuitable alloys in their stead. This may therudderrhas:beenomitted.This-is because theposition of a rudder would :be optional, either aboveor i'below the propeller, and therefore superfluous of illustration,especially-as theomissionrenders the drawings more clear.

:In Fig. A, is seen-a slight improvement wherein it is intendedtoprotect thesurface ofthe cylinder fromrthe xwaterbynieans of anelastic fiabric 4.8 or sheath ofrubber secured on thecylinderunder ring49. This sheet rubber: extends intothe annularpooket 47 in casting 50,.and expands and. contracts linearly With the reciprocationsof the.piston. It is obvious that difierent modifications of this.classlmightbe introduced Withoutdepartingafrom.;the invention. This isalso truein regardtoehanging the method of applying .the powertothepiston, .as for example entirely omitting vthe ears, flywheels andcranks and substituting some othersystem therefor. .Consequently *Ireserve .all rights to any and all such modifieations.

:Havingthus fully described .myinvention I desire toobtain. byLetterssPatent.

1. A .boat provided with a cylinder exposing an ,open .end tothe water,.a piston motmted in said; open end adapted to .Lrecip rocate outwardlyinto the Water and into said cylinder, and a protective sheath securedto the exposed -.e'xttemity of. said piston surrounding the latter andextending to reciprocal movement, air channels in said pistoncommunicating with the interior of said cylinder and with the outsidewater, vents said cylinder communicating with the interior of saidcylinder and the interior of said boat, means for breakingvandestablish-ing communications atintervals and means {forreciprocating .said piston.

3. A iboat provided with a. cyrlinderihaving an innerclosed end andexposing an open end .to the water, a piston adaptedto reciprocate insaid cylinder and project from the open end into the water, a shattcured to said piston passing through .the closed endof said cylinder,and air intake valves situated in said closed end and communicating withthe interior v.ozE saidcylinder.

4:. A boat provided with a cylinder exposing anopen end to. the .water,and:havi11g an inner closednend provided ,With airin l-et valvescommunicating with a chamber .in said cylinder, .a piston adapted toreciprocatively project 'iELODl said .open end :into the Water, .airoutlet valves .in saidv piston adapted to open outwardly and means t'orreciprocating saidpiston.

Signed at :132 assau .street, the 'borough of 'M-anhattain countyjof NewYork, city and State of New York, this 115th ,day of .Qctober, 1917.

ao n ANDRES BACKLUND- itnesses:

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